The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-01-13
Yes. Understand There's no use

Yes, understand. There's 40 usC
in waitin,- You're quite right to &c
it over. The sooner the better, says 1. ,
We shall average a run of three
hundred miles every twenty-foul
hours, and I'll slip in an extra degree
whenever l can. Who's to know?"
"Ne'er man on this vessel, SIR" he
answered. There's not above two
as can spell words in a book"
$50 l should think. Of course
shall have to prick off the chart accord
ing to the wind. A breeze like this
may well give US three hundred miles.
| If it fall calm, can make her drift six
ty miles west-sOu' west, and clap on
another eighty for steerage-way. !
shall have double reckoniags-One for
the crew, one for myself. You, as
chief. will know it's all right
Leave that to me-" he answered,
with a short laugh. They've found
out by this time that the ships clip
per, and I'll let EN- understand that
there never was n better navigator
than you. It'll be for you and me to
keep as much canvas on her as she II
carry in our watches, for the sake of
appearance; and if was you, sir, I'd
trim the Longtime afresh."
"A good idea" says l. 'I'n give
her double dose. Twelve knots shall
be nothing in moderate breeze"
We both laughed at this; and then,
to make my presence on deck appear
reasonable, walked to the pinnacle.
returned and said:
''In nine days hence we must con-
trive to be in longitude 81 degrees and
latitude 33 degrees somewhere about
it. If we can average one hundred
and eighty miles every day, we shall
do it.
What do you make the distance
from where we are now to the Gulf?
in broad numbers, three thousand
miles
mo more"
averaging two hundred miles a
day, we should be abreast of New Or
leans in fortnight. | said three weeks,
but [ shall correct myself to Stevens
tons. I'll show him a jump on the
chart that will astoniSh him. I'll pun
ish the scoundrels yet. I'll give them
the direct course to Bermuda when
they're in the boats, and if our plot
only succeeds and the wind serves, one
of Us two will be ashore on the island be-
fore them, to let the Governor know
whom he is to expect"
That may be done, too" answered
the boatswain; ''but it'll have to be a
dark night to get away from 'em with
out their seeing of us"
They'll choose dark night for
their own sakes. Boatswain, give us
your hand. Your cleverness has. in
my opinion, as good as saved Us. l felt
a dead man this morning, but was
never more alive than | am now"
| grasped his hand, and went below,
positively in better spirits than | had
enjoyed since | first put my foot on this
Inflated ship.
The first thing did the next morn
ing was to mark off the iog-line afresh,
having Struggled the reel below during
my watch. l shortened the distance
between the knots considerably, so
that greater number should pass over
the stern while the sand was running
than would be reeled off if the line
were true.
At eight bells, when the boatswain
went on deck, asked him to take the
log with him; and, following him
presently, just as Stevens was about to
leave the poop, looked around ME.
as If studying the weather, and said
''BOson, you must keep the log go
ing, please. Heave it every hour, never
less. l may have to depend upon
dead-reckoning to-day, Mr.. Stevens"
and | pointed to the sky, which was as
thick as it had been all night"
"Shail L heave it now?" inquired the
boatswain.
Did you heave it in your watch, Mr..
Stevens" said |.
NO" he replied. What are we
dom now? This has been her pace all
along-ha'n't touched brace or given
an order since L came on deck"
He had come on deck to relieve me
at four.
Lets heave the log" 1 exclaimed,
II shall be better satisfied"
| gave the glass to Stevens, and
while arranging the log-ship, L looked
over the side, and said:
"By. Jove, she's walking and no
Il allow that we're going ten," said
the man at the wheel.
a give her thirteen good" said l.
Call it fifteen, and you'll not be far
out" observed the boatswain.
The carpenter cooked his evil eye at
the water, but hazarded no conjecture.
''She can sail-if she can't do moth
ing else" was all he said.
l flung the log-ship overheard.
Turn l cried out.
| saw the knots fibbing out like a
string of beads. The reel roared in
the boatswain's hands, and when
Stevens roared Stop l caught the
line and allowed it to jam me against
the rail, as though the weight of it.
dragged through the water at the
phenomenal speed at which we were
supposed to be going, woald haul me
overheard.
What's that knot there, Mr..
| called out. 4" Bear a |
hand; the line is cutting my fingers in
halvesr'
He put down the sand-glass and land |
hold of the line where the knot was, |!
and began to count.
Efficient" he roarGA
1 looked at Stevens triumphantIy, as
though l should say, what do you think
Of that?'